JP6723694B2 - Image forming apparatus and cartridge - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using electrophotography and a cartridge detachable from the image forming apparatus.

In the image forming operation in the image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic technique, first, the photosensitive drum is uniformly charged by the charging roller. The exposure device selectively exposes the charged photosensitive drum to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum is developed as a toner image by the developing device. Then, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred to the sheet by the transfer roller. The toner image transferred onto the sheet is fixed on the sheet by being pressed and heated by the fixing device. The image forming apparatus thus forms an image on the sheet.

In an image forming apparatus, it is generally necessary to replenish toner and maintain a means (process means) for forming an image on a sheet. In order to easily perform such maintenance and the like, in recent years, a photosensitive drum, a charging roller, a developing device, and the like are integrally formed into a cartridge. The one in which the photosensitive drum and the like are integrally formed into a cartridge is called a process cartridge, and is attachable to and detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Such a cartridge is provided with an electric terminal (cartridge side terminal) for supplying a voltage to a process means such as a charging roller. When the cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body, the cartridge side terminal is electrically connected to the electric terminal (main body side terminal) provided in the image forming apparatus main body. Here, if foreign matter adheres to the cartridge-side terminals, the electrical connection between the cartridge and the image forming apparatus main body may become unstable.

Therefore, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the cartridge is provided with a shutter for covering the cartridge-side terminal. When the cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus main body, the shutter covers the cartridge side terminal. Then, the shutter rotates in conjunction with the operation of mounting the cartridge in the main body of the image forming apparatus, so that the shutter exposes the cartridge side terminal.

However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, since it is necessary to provide the cartridge with a mechanism for rotating the shutter, the number of parts constituting the cartridge increases. The increased number of parts increases the cost of manufacturing the cartridge.

JP, 2005-128469, A

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for maintaining a good electrical connection between the cartridge and the image forming apparatus main body without providing a complicated mechanism.

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention,
An image forming apparatus having an apparatus main body and a cartridge detachable from the apparatus main body,
The device body is
A terminal for supplying electricity to the cartridge, having a main body side terminal having elasticity, and a terminal support member supporting the main body side terminal,
The cartridge is
The cartridge-side terminals for electricity is supplied from the apparatus main body, said device cartridge side which are disposed so as to face the terminal supporting member and the body-side terminal at the downstream side of the mounting direction of the cartridge relative to the body Terminals,
A frame having an opening that exposes the cartridge-side terminal and an opening forming portion that forms the opening on the downstream side in the mounting direction;
The cartridge-side terminal is arranged upstream of the opening forming portion in the mounting direction,
By inserting the main body side terminal and the terminal supporting member into the opening in the process of mounting the cartridge on the apparatus main body, the main body side terminal contacts the cartridge side terminal,
The cartridge is in a state of being mounted on the apparatus main body, said main body side terminal is the mounting direction of the cartridge-side terminals, wherein the press to Turkey from the opposite direction.

In order to achieve the above object, the cartridge of the present invention is
A cartridge detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus,
An image carrier,
A cartridge side terminal which is a terminal for supplying electricity from the apparatus body to the cartridge;
An opening for exposing the cartridge-side terminal, into which a main body-side terminal provided in the main body of the apparatus and a terminal supporting member supporting the main body-side terminal are inserted when the cartridge is attached to the main body of the apparatus. A frame having an opening, and an opening forming portion forming the opening on the downstream side in the mounting direction of the cartridge with respect to the apparatus main body ,
Provided in the apparatus body at a downstream side of the front Symbol mounting direction, have a, a driving force receiving portion for receiving a driving force for rotating said image bearing member from the arranged drive shaft to the mounting direction parallel to the direction Then
The cartridge-side terminals, characterized in that it is placed at one end of the cartridge unit receives the upstream and the driving force in the mounting direction from the opening portion forming portion is disposed.

According to the present invention, it is possible to maintain a good electrical connection between the cartridge and the image forming apparatus main body without providing a complicated mechanism.

Schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. Schematic cross-sectional view of the process cartridge according to the first embodiment FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a process cartridge according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a process cartridge according to Embodiment 1. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing how the process cartridge is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. The figure which shows the cartridge side electric terminal vicinity in the process cartridge Side view of the process cartridge according to the first embodiment Side view of a process cartridge according to a second embodiment

Embodiments of the present invention will be exemplified below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials and shapes of the components described in the embodiments and their relative arrangements should be appropriately changed depending on the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions. The scope is not limited to the following embodiments.

(Example 1)
<Overall structure of image forming apparatus>
Example 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. Here, the direction of the rotation center axis of the photosensitive drum 62 (image carrier) is defined as the longitudinal direction. In this longitudinal direction, the side where the photosensitive drum 62 receives the driving force from the apparatus body A of the image forming apparatus is the driving side, and the side opposite to the driving side is the non-driving side. Here, the apparatus main body A of the image forming apparatus 1 is a portion of the image forming apparatus 1 excluding the cartridge B (process cartridge). The image forming apparatus 1 is a laser beam printer using electrophotography. In the image forming apparatus 1, the cartridge B is detachable from the apparatus main body A. Further, below the cartridge B, a sheet tray 4 accommodating a recording medium on which an image is formed (hereinafter referred to as a sheet material P) is arranged.

In the apparatus main body A of the image forming apparatus 1, along the conveyance direction D of the sheet material P, a pickup roller 5a, a feeding roller pair 5b, a conveyance roller pair 5c, a transfer guide 6, a transfer roller 7, a conveyance guide 8 and fixing. The device 9, the discharge roller pair 10, and the discharge tray 11 are sequentially arranged. The fixing device 9 has a heating roller 9a and a pressure roller 9b.

<Image forming process>
Next, the process of forming an image will be described. First, when the image forming apparatus 1 receives the print start signal, the photosensitive drum 62 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow R in FIG. The charging roller 66 (charging member) (see FIG. 2) to which the bias voltage is applied contacts the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62 to uniformly charge the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62. The exposure device 3 outputs the laser light L to the photosensitive drum 62 according to the image information. The laser light L passes through the gap between the developing container 23 and the cleaning frame 71 in the cartridge B, and scans and exposes the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, in the developing unit 20 (developing device), the toner T in the toner chamber 29 is rotated by the first transport member 43, the second transport member 44, and the third transport member 50. The toner is agitated/conveyed and sent to the toner supply chamber 28. The toner T sent to the toner supply chamber 28 is carried on the surface of the developing roller 32 (developer carrier) by the magnetic force of the magnet roller 34 (fixed magnet). Then, the toner T carried on the developing roller 32 is frictionally charged by the developing blade 42, and the layer thickness of the toner T carried on the developing roller 32 is regulated to a constant thickness. By supplying the toner T carried by the developing roller 32 to the photosensitive drum 62, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 62 is developed as a toner image (developer image).

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the sheet material P stored in the lower portion of the apparatus main body A is picked up by the pickup roller 5a, the feeding roller pair 5b, and the conveyance roller pair 5c at the timing when the laser light L is output. Are fed from the sheet tray 4. Then, the fed sheet material P is guided by the transfer guide 6 and conveyed to a transfer position which is a nip portion between the photosensitive drum 62 and the transfer roller 7. At this transfer position, the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 62 to the sheet material P.

The sheet material P on which the toner image is transferred is guided by the conveyance guide 8 and is conveyed to the fixing device 9. Then, the sheet material P passes through the nip portion between the heating roller 9a and the pressure roller 9b in the fixing device 9. In the nip portion, the sheet material is pressed and heated, so that the toner image is fixed on the sheet material P. The sheet material P on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to the discharge tray 11 by the discharge roller pair 10. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 62 after the toner image is transferred is removed by the cleaning member 77. The removed toner is reused to form a toner image. The toner removed from the photosensitive drum 62 is stored in the waste toner chamber 71b of the cleaning unit 60.

<Overall structure of cartridge B>
Next, the overall configuration of the cartridge B will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the cartridge B according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the cartridge B according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the cartridge B according to the first embodiment. In addition, in the present embodiment, description of screws for connecting the respective parts is omitted.

The cartridge B according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The cartridge B has a cleaning unit 60 and a developing unit 20. In general, a process cartridge is a cartridge in which a photosensitive drum and at least one of a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit, which are process units that act on the photosensitive drum, are integrally formed into a cartridge. Further, the process cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

The cleaning unit 60 includes a photosensitive drum 62, a charging roller 66, a cleaning member 77, a cleaning frame body 71 that supports these, and a lid member 72 fixed to the cleaning frame body 71 by welding or the like. The charging roller 66 and the cleaning member 77 are arranged so as to contact the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 62. The cleaning member 77 has a blade-shaped rubber blade member 77a formed of rubber which is an elastic material, and a support member 77b that supports the rubber blade member 77a.

The rubber blade member 77a is in contact with the photosensitive drum 62 in a counter direction with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 62. That is, the rubber blade member 77a is in contact with the photosensitive drum 62 so that the tip of the rubber blade member 77a faces the upstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 62. The toner removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 62 by the cleaning member 77 is transported by the waste toner transport member 54 to the waste toner chamber 71b formed by the cleaning frame 71 and the lid member 72. The waste toner conveying member 54 is engaged with the crank member 86, and the drive is transmitted from the crank member 86 to rotate in the direction of arrow Q in FIG. 2 to convey the toner to the waste toner chamber 71b.

Further, a squeeze sheet 65 for preventing the toner from leaking from the waste toner chamber 71b is provided at the edge of the cleaning frame 71 so as to contact the photosensitive drum 62. Further, the driving force of a main body drive motor (not shown) that is a drive source is transmitted to the photosensitive drum 62, so that the photosensitive drum 62 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow R in FIG. 2 in accordance with the image forming operation. The charging roller 66 is rotatably attached via a charging roller bearing 67 near both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning frame 71 (direction substantially parallel to the rotation center axis direction of the photosensitive drum 62). The charging roller 66 presses the photosensitive drum 62 by the biasing member 68 pressing the charging roller bearing 67 toward the photosensitive drum 62. Further, the charging roller 66 rotates following the rotation of the photosensitive drum 62.

The developing unit 20 includes a developing roller 32, a developing container 23 that supports the developing roller 32, a developing blade 42, and the like. A magnet roller 34 is provided inside the developing roller 32. Further, the developing blade 42 regulates the thickness of the toner layer carried on the developing roller 32. Interval holding members 38 are attached to both ends of the developing roller 32 in the direction of the rotation center axis of the developing roller 32. The gap holding member 38 contacts the photosensitive drum 62 to form a minute gap between the developing roller 32 and the photosensitive drum 62.

A blow-out prevention sheet 33 for preventing toner from leaking from the developing unit 20 is attached to the edge of the bottom member 22 so as to come into contact with the developing roller 32. Further, the toner chamber 29 formed by the developing container 23 and the bottom member 22 is provided with a first transport member 43, a second transport member 44, and a third transport member 50. The first transport member 43, the second transport member 44, and the third transport member 50 stir the toner contained in the toner chamber 29 and transport the toner to the toner supply chamber 28.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cartridge B is configured by connecting the cleaning unit 60 and the developing unit 20. The cleaning unit 60 is provided with a drum bearing 73 that rotatably supports the photosensitive drum 62, a cleaning frame 71, a lid member 72, the photosensitive drum 62, and a drum shaft 78. The photosensitive drum 62 is rotatably supported by inserting the drive-side drum flange 63 provided on the drive side into the hole 73a of the drum bearing 73. Then, on the non-driving side (see FIG. 4), the drum shaft 78 is press-fitted into the hole portion 71c provided in the cleaning frame body 71 and rotates the hole portion (not shown) of the non-driving side drum flange 64. Support as much as possible. Further, the drive side drum flange 63 is provided with a flange gear portion 63b for transmitting drive to the developing roller gear 39 provided on the driving side of the developing roller 32.

A driving-side drum side member 69 and a non-driving-side drum side member 70 for supporting the developing unit 20 are provided on both ends of the cleaning frame 71. The boss 71a provided on the drive side of the cleaning frame 71 is inserted into the elongated hole portion 69d provided on the drive side drum side member 69. Further, the support portion 73b of the drum bearing 73 attached to the cleaning frame 71 is inserted into the positioning hole 69c provided in the drive side drum side member 69. As a result, the drive side drum side member 69 is fixed to the cleaning frame 71.

Then, the boss 71d provided on the non-driving side of the cleaning frame 71 is inserted into the elongated hole portion 70d provided on the non-driving side drum side member 70. Further, the outer diameter portion 71e of the cylindrical boss into which the drum shaft 78 is inserted is inserted into the positioning hole 70c provided in the non-driving side drum side member 70. As a result, the non-driving side drum side member 70 is fixed to the cleaning frame 71.

On the other hand, the developing unit 20 includes a bottom member 22 (see FIG. 1), a developing container 23 (see FIG. 1), a driving side developing side member 26, a non-driving side developing side member 27, a developing roller 32, a developing blade 42. Have. The developing roller 32 is rotatably attached to the developing container 23 via bearing members 37 provided at both ends of the developing roller 32. Then, the driving-side drum side member 69 and the non-driving-side drum side member 70 are slidably connected, so that the developing unit 20 and the cleaning unit 60 are connected. The cartridge B includes a developing unit 20 and a cleaning unit 60.

At one end side of the developing unit 20 in the longitudinal direction, the driving side developing side member 26 is provided with a developing first supporting portion 26a and a developing second supporting portion 26b. Further, on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the developing unit 20, a developing third supporting portion 27a and a developing fourth supporting portion 27b are formed on the non-driving side developing side member 27. Then, the developing first supporting portion 26a provided in the driving side developing side member 26 is inserted into the first elongated hole 69a provided in the driving side drum side member 69. The developing second support portion 26b provided in the driving side developing side member 26 is inserted into the second elongated hole 69b provided in the driving side drum side member 69.

Further, the developing third support portion 27a provided in the non-driving side developing side member 27 is inserted into the third elongated hole 70a provided in the non-driving side drum side member 70. The developing fourth support portion 27b provided in the non-driving side developing side member 27 is inserted into the fourth elongated hole 70b provided in the non-driving side drum side member 70. As described above, the driving-side drum side member 69 and the non-driving-side drum side member 70 are connected, so that the developing unit 20 and the cleaning unit 60 are connected.

The first engagement portion 46Ra of the drive-side biasing member 46R is attached to the boss 69e of the drive-side drum side member 69. The second engaging portion 4 of the drive-side biasing member 46R
6Rb is attached to the boss 26c of the driving side developing side member 26. The first engagement portion 46Fa of the non-driving side biasing member 46F is attached to the boss 70e of the non-driving side drum side member 70. The second engaging portion 46Fb of the non-driving side biasing member 46F is hooked on the boss 27c of the non-driving side developing side member 27.

In this embodiment, the driving-side biasing member 46R and the non-driving-side biasing member 46F are metal tension springs, and the developing unit 20 is pressed against the cleaning unit 60 by the biasing force of the springs. As a result, the developing roller 32 is surely pressed against the photosensitive drum 62. A predetermined gap is provided between the developing roller 32 and the photosensitive drum 62 by the gap holding members 38 attached to both ends of the developing roller 32.

<Cartridge attachment/detachment operation>
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus main body A in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how the cartridge B is attached to the apparatus main body A of the image forming apparatus 1. Next, the operation of attaching/detaching the cartridge B to/from the apparatus main body A of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

An opening/closing door 13 is rotatably attached to the apparatus main body A. By opening the opening/closing door 13, the cartridge mounting opening 17 formed in the non-driving side plate 16 of the apparatus main body A is exposed. A cartridge guide 12 for guiding the cartridge B into the apparatus body A is provided in the cartridge mounting opening 17 of the apparatus body A. The cartridge B is inserted into the main assembly A of the apparatus by being guided by the cartridge guide 12 in the direction of arrow C in FIG.

Here, the arrow C direction is the direction of the rotation center axis of the photosensitive drum 62, and is the direction in which the cartridge B is inserted into the apparatus main body A from the non-driving side toward the driving side. That is, in the direction of inserting the cartridge B into the apparatus main assembly A, the non-driving side is the upstream side and the driving side is the downstream side. The device body A is provided with a drive shaft 14 that transmits drive to a drive force receiving portion 63a (see FIG. 3) provided in the cartridge B.

The drive shaft 14 is driven by a motor (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body A. As a result, the photosensitive drum 62 connected to the driving force receiving portion 63a receives the driving force from the apparatus main assembly A and rotates. Further, electric power is supplied to the charging roller 66 via an upstream charging terminal 91 (main body side terminal) (see FIG. 7) provided in the apparatus main body A. Electric power is supplied to the developing roller 32 via an upstream developing terminal 90 (main body side terminal) (see FIG. 7) provided in the main assembly A of the apparatus.

<Explanation of electrical terminals>
FIG. 7 is a view showing the vicinity of the cartridge-side electric terminal in the process cartridge B. FIG. 8 is a side view of the cartridge B according to the first embodiment. The structures of the main body A of the image forming apparatus 1 and the electrical terminals of the cartridge B will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a state immediately before the cartridge B is attached to the apparatus main body A. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view in a state where the cartridge B is attached to the apparatus main body A. FIG. 7B is a sectional view of FIG. 1A taken along the S1 plane.

As shown in FIG. 7A, a downstream side developing terminal 79 (first cartridge side terminal) for supplying electricity from the apparatus main assembly A to the developing roller 32 is provided on the side surface of the cartridge B. Electricity is supplied from the apparatus main assembly A to the developing roller 32 via the downstream developing terminal 79. Further, on the side surface of the cartridge B, a downstream side charging terminal 80 (second cartridge side terminal) for supplying electricity from the apparatus main body A to the charging roller 66 is provided. Electricity is supplied from the apparatus main assembly A to the charging roller 66 via the downstream charging terminal 80.

The downstream developing terminal 79 and the downstream charging terminal 80 are made of sheet metal. The downstream developing terminal 79 has a connecting surface 79a which is a surface orthogonal to the mounting/removing direction (C direction) of the cartridge B. Further, the downstream charging terminal 80 has a connection surface 80a which is a surface orthogonal to the mounting/removing direction (C direction) of the cartridge B. The downstream developing terminal 79 is electrically connected to the developing roller 32 via an electric path (not shown). Further, the downstream charging terminal 80 is electrically connected to the charging roller 66 via an electric path (not shown).

The drive-side drum side member 69 (frame body) is provided with a hole-shaped opening 69f at a position corresponding to the downstream-side developing terminal 79. The drive-side drum side member 69 is provided with a hole-shaped opening 69g at a position corresponding to the downstream charging terminal 80. The opening 69f exposes the downstream developing terminal 79. The opening 69g exposes the downstream charging terminal 80. The downstream developing terminal 79 is arranged near the edge of the opening 69f opposite to the edge on the side where the upstream developing terminal 90 starts to be inserted. That is, the downstream developing terminal 79 is arranged so that it can come into contact with the upstream developing terminal 90 after passing through the opening 69f. The downstream charging terminal 80 is arranged near the edge of the opening 69g opposite to the edge on which the upstream charging terminal 91 starts to be inserted. That is, the downstream charging terminal 80 is arranged so that the upstream charging terminal 91 can come into contact with the downstream charging terminal 91 after passing through the opening 69g.

In the main assembly A of the apparatus, an upstream developing terminal 90, which is an electric terminal composed of a spring wire material having elasticity, is provided at a position corresponding to the downstream developing terminal 79. When the cartridge B is mounted in the apparatus main assembly A, the upstream developing terminal 90 presses the downstream developing terminal 79. In addition, the apparatus main assembly A is provided with an upstream charging terminal 91, which is an electric terminal formed of an elastic spring wire or the like, at a position corresponding to the downstream charging terminal 80. When the cartridge B is mounted in the apparatus main assembly A, the upstream charging terminal 91 presses the downstream charging terminal 80.

The upstream developing terminal 90 is supported by a developing terminal supporting member 92, which is a resin-made cylindrical supporting member. Further, the upstream charging terminal 91 is supported by a charging terminal supporting member 93 which is a resin-made cylindrical supporting member. In the process of inserting the cartridge B into the main assembly A of the apparatus, the developing terminal supporting member 92 enters the opening 69f and the charging terminal supporting member 93 enters the opening 69g.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the cartridge B is completely attached to the apparatus main body A, the upstream developing terminal 90 contacts the connecting surface 79 a of the downstream developing terminal 79. When the cartridge B is completely attached to the apparatus main body A, the upstream charging terminal 91 comes into contact with the connecting surface 80 a of the downstream charging terminal 80. Then, the upstream developing terminal 90 comes into contact with the connecting surface 79a, so that the upstream developing terminal 90 is elastically deformed. Further, the upstream charging terminal 91 comes into contact with the connecting surface 80a, so that the upstream charging terminal 91 is elastically deformed.

The upstream developing terminal 90 presses the downstream developing terminal 79 by the restoring force generated in the upstream developing terminal 90. As a result, the downstream developing terminal 79 and the upstream developing terminal 90 are electrically connected. Further, the restoring force of the spring generated in the upstream charging terminal 91 causes the upstream charging terminal 91 to press the downstream charging terminal 80. As a result, the downstream charging terminal 80 and the upstream charging terminal 91 are electrically connected.

In this embodiment, when the cartridge B is removed from the main assembly A of the apparatus, the downstream developing terminal 79 is located on the inner side of the opening 69f of the driving side drum side member 69. Therefore, when the cartridge B is removed from the main assembly A of the apparatus, the user mistakenly detects that the downstream developing terminal 7
It is unlikely to touch 9. Further, when the cartridge B is removed from the main assembly A of the apparatus, the downstream charging terminal 80 is located on the inner side of the opening 69g of the driving drum side member 69. Therefore, when the cartridge B is removed from the main assembly A of the apparatus, it is unlikely that the user accidentally touches the downstream charging terminal 80.

Further, in this embodiment, when the cartridge B is removed from the apparatus main assembly A, the downstream developing terminal 79 and the downstream charging terminal 80 are less likely to come into contact with the parts provided on the apparatus main assembly A side. Therefore, the risk of foreign matter adhering to the downstream developing terminal 79 and the downstream charging terminal 80 can be reduced. As a result, the accuracy of electrical connection between the apparatus main assembly A and the cartridge B can be improved.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, when the cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main assembly A, a gap is formed between the end surface of the opening 69f of the cartridge B and the developing terminal support member 92 of the apparatus main assembly A. Is provided. That is, the developing terminal supporting member 92 does not overlap the driving side drum side member 69, and the entire opening 69f is exposed. Further, when the cartridge B is attached to the apparatus main assembly A, a gap is provided between the end surface of the opening 69g of the cartridge B and the charging terminal support member 93 of the apparatus main assembly A. That is, the charging terminal support member 93 does not overlap the drive-side drum side member 69, and the entire opening 69g is exposed. This gap is set to be larger than the distance that the cartridge B can move with respect to the apparatus main assembly A in the direction orthogonal to the direction in which the cartridge B is inserted into the apparatus main assembly A. Therefore, the movement of the cartridge B with respect to the apparatus main body A is not restricted by the opening 69f and the opening 69g.

As described above, in this embodiment, the cartridge-side terminal, which is an electric terminal for supplying electricity from the apparatus main body A of the image forming apparatus 1 to the cartridge B (process cartridge), is formed by the opening formed in the frame. Exposed. Since the cartridge side terminal is located inside the opening, it is difficult for the user to touch the cartridge side terminal. This makes it difficult for foreign matter to adhere to the cartridge-side terminals. It is possible to maintain a good electrical connection between the cartridge B and the main assembly A of the apparatus without providing a complicated mechanism.

(Example 2)
Example 2 will be described. Here, in the second embodiment, the description of the part having the same function as the first embodiment will be omitted by giving the same reference numeral to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a side view of the process cartridge according to the second embodiment. In the first embodiment, when the cartridge B is mounted in the apparatus main body A, the cartridge B is provided between the end surface of the opening 69f and the developing terminal supporting member 92 and between the end surface of the opening 69g and the charging terminal supporting member 93. There was a gap. In the first embodiment, this gap is provided so that the movement of the cartridge B with respect to the apparatus main body A is not restricted.

In the second embodiment, the shape of the opening 169f provided in the drive side drum side member 169 is different from the shape of the opening 69f provided in the drive side drum side member 69 according to the first embodiment. Further, the shape of the opening 169g provided in the driving side drum side member 169 is different from the shape of the opening 69g provided in the driving side drum side member 69. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the gap between the opening 169f and the developing terminal supporting member 92 and the gap between the opening 169g and the charging terminal supporting member 93 are different from those in the first embodiment.

A method of positioning the cartridge C with respect to the apparatus main body A will be described with reference to FIG. Similar to the first embodiment, in the cartridge C, the drum bearing 73 is provided with the support portion 73b. Further, the cleaning frame body 71 is provided with a boss 71a. On the other hand, the apparatus body A has a positioning hole 94 having an abutting portion 94a and an abutting portion 94b, and an abutting portion 95a.
And a rotation stop hole 95 having Further, the apparatus main body A is provided with a pressing unit (not shown) that generates a pressing force E that presses the supporting portion 73b. The supporting portion 73b abuts the abutting portions 94a and 94b in the positioning hole 94 by the weight of the cartridge C and the pressing force E. The boss 71 a abuts the abutting portion 95 a of the rotation stop hole 95 due to the weight of the cartridge C and the pressing force E.

In this state, a gap L1a is formed between the support portion 73b and the positioning hole 94 in the horizontal direction when the image forming apparatus is normally used. Further, a gap L1b is formed between the support portion 73b and the positioning hole 94 in the vertical direction in the posture in which the image forming apparatus is normally used. Further, a gap L2a is formed between the boss 71a and the rotation stop hole 95 in the horizontal direction in the posture in which the image forming apparatus is normally used.

In addition, a gap L2b is formed between the boss 71a and the rotation stop hole 95 in the vertical direction in the posture in which the image forming apparatus is normally used. When the image forming apparatus is shipped with the cartridge C attached to the apparatus main body A, a force exceeding the dead weight of the cartridge C and the pressing force E may be applied to the cartridge C during transportation. In this case, the cartridge C can move with respect to the apparatus main body A within the ranges of the gap L1a, the gap L1b, the gap L2a, and the gap L2b.

Further, in the horizontal direction in the posture in which the image forming apparatus is normally used, a gap L3a is formed between the end surface of the opening 169f in the driving side drum side member 169 and the developing terminal supporting member 92. A gap L3b is formed between the end surface of the opening 169f in the drive side drum side member 169 and the developing terminal support member 92 in the vertical direction in the posture in which the image forming apparatus is normally used. Further, a gap L4a is formed between the end surface of the opening 169g and the charging terminal support member 93 in the horizontal direction when the image forming apparatus is normally used. A gap L4b is formed between the end surface of the opening 169g and the charging terminal support member 93 in the vertical direction in the posture in which the image forming apparatus is normally used.

Here, in the second embodiment, the gap L1a≈the gap L2a≈the gap L3a≈the gap L4a, and the gap L1b≈the gap L2b≈the gap L3b≈the gap L4b. That is, in the direction in which the cartridge C can move with respect to the apparatus body A, the amount by which the developing terminal support member 92 can move within the opening 169f is the same as the amount by which the cartridge C can move with respect to the apparatus body A. It becomes a degree. In the direction in which the cartridge C can move with respect to the apparatus main assembly A, the amount by which the charging terminal support member 93 can move within the opening 169g and the amount by which the cartridge C can move with respect to the apparatus main assembly A are the same. It becomes a degree.

When the image forming apparatus is shipped with the cartridge C attached to the apparatus main body A, a force that exceeds the dead weight of the cartridge C and the pressing force E may be applied to the cartridge C during transportation. Even in this case, in the second embodiment, the force received by the drive side drum side member 169 can be received at the four positions of the positioning hole 94, the rotation stop hole 95, the opening 169f, and the opening 169g. In this way, since the force received by the drive-side drum side member 169 is dispersed at four locations, the risk of damage to the apparatus body A and the cartridge B can be reduced.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be produced.
Further, in the second embodiment, a predetermined gap is provided between the terminal support member and the opening in a state where the cartridge C (process cartridge) is mounted in the apparatus main body A. The predetermined gap is the amount by which the terminal support portion can move with respect to the opening and the amount by which the cartridge C can move with respect to the apparatus body A in the direction in which the cartridge C can move with respect to the apparatus body A. And are provided to be approximately the same. As a result, the force that the cartridge C receives from the outside can be dispersed.

In each of the embodiments, the process cartridge is mounted in the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus, so that the electric terminal provided in the process cartridge and the electric terminal provided in the apparatus body are electrically connected. However, it is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the developing cartridge may be attached to the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus so that the electric terminal provided on the developing cartridge and the electric terminal provided on the apparatus main body are electrically connected.

In each embodiment, an electric terminal for applying a voltage to the developing roller and an electric terminal for applying a voltage to the charging roller are arranged inside the opening provided in the frame. However, it is not necessarily limited to this. For example, an electric terminal for applying a voltage to another electric path such as a capacitance type toner remaining amount detection circuit may be arranged inside the opening provided in the frame body.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Image forming apparatus, 20... Developing unit, 62... Photosensitive drum, 69... Driving side drum side member, 69f... Opening part, 69g... Opening part, 79... Downstream developing terminal, 80... Downstream charging terminal, 90... Upstream developing terminal, 91... upstream charging terminal, A... device body, B... cartridge

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus having an apparatus main body and a cartridge detachable from the apparatus main body,
The device body is
A terminal for supplying electricity to the cartridge, having a main body side terminal having elasticity, and a terminal support member supporting the main body side terminal,
The cartridge is
The cartridge-side terminals for electricity is supplied from the apparatus main body, said device cartridge side which are disposed so as to face the terminal supporting member and the body-side terminal at the downstream side of the mounting direction of the cartridge relative to the body Terminals,
A frame having an opening that exposes the cartridge-side terminal and an opening forming portion that forms the opening on the downstream side in the mounting direction;
The cartridge-side terminal is arranged upstream of the opening forming portion in the mounting direction,
By inserting the main body side terminal and the terminal supporting member into the opening in the process of mounting the cartridge on the apparatus main body, the main body side terminal contacts the cartridge side terminal,
The cartridge is in a state of being mounted on the apparatus main body, an image forming apparatus, wherein the pressing to Turkey from the opposite direction to the main body side terminal is the cartridge-side terminal the mounting direction. The opening is provided in the frame so that the terminal support member and the opening have a gap in a state where the cartridge is mounted in the apparatus main body,
The gap is a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction of the cartridge, and in the direction in which the cartridge can move with respect to the apparatus main body, the amount by which the terminal support member can move with respect to the opening, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge is provided so that the amount of movement of the cartridge with respect to the apparatus main body is substantially the same. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge-side terminals are arranged so that the main-body-side terminals can come into contact with each other after the main body-side terminals pass through the opening. The cartridge includes an image carrier, a developer carrier that supplies a developer to the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier, and a charging member that charges the image carrier.
The cartridge side terminals are first cartridge side terminals for supplying electricity from the apparatus body to the developer carrier, and second cartridge side terminals for supplying electricity from the apparatus body to the charging member. Has and
The said opening part has the 1st opening part which exposes the said 1st cartridge side terminal, and the 2nd opening part which exposes the said 2nd cartridge side terminal, The any one of Claim 1 to 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The image forming apparatus according to item. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body side terminal is a metal spring. An opening that allows the cartridge to move between an internal position to be mounted on the apparatus main body and an external position to be removed,
An opening and closing member for opening and closing the opening,
6. The main body side terminal presses the cartridge side terminal when the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body with the opening opened by the opening/closing member. 2. The image forming apparatus according to item 1. A cartridge detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus,
An image carrier,
A cartridge side terminal which is a terminal for supplying electricity from the apparatus body to the cartridge;
An opening for exposing the cartridge-side terminal, into which a main body-side terminal provided in the main body of the apparatus and a terminal supporting member supporting the main body-side terminal are inserted when the cartridge is attached to the main body of the apparatus. A frame having an opening, and an opening forming portion forming the opening on the downstream side in the mounting direction of the cartridge with respect to the apparatus main body ,
Provided in the apparatus body at a downstream side of the front Symbol mounting direction, have a, a driving force receiving portion for receiving a driving force for rotating said image bearing member from the arranged drive shaft to the mounting direction parallel to the direction Then
The cartridge-side terminals, cartridges, characterized in that it is placed at one end of said cartridge and upstream said driving force receiving portion is disposed in the mounting direction from the opening portion forming portion. 8. The cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the cartridge-side terminal is arranged so that the main-body-side terminal can come into contact with the main body-side terminal after passing through the opening.

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